SERMON 

PREACHED     AT     THE  FUNERAL. 

OF 

CAPT.  SALEM  S.  MARSH, 

May    1  9,    1  863, 

BY    REV.    G.    N.  WEBBER, 

Pastor  of  the  First  Con<jre(jatioaal  Churchy  LotcelL 


LOWELL: 
J.  J.  JUDKIXS,  BOOKSELLER,  6  JOHN  STREET. 
1863. 


A 


SERMON 


PREACHED     AT     THE  FUNERAL 


OP 


CAPT.  SALEM  S.  MARSH, 


Mat  19,  1863, 


BT    REV.    G.    N.  WEBBER, 

Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  Lowell. 


LOWELL: 
J.  J.  JUDKINS,  BOOKSELLER,  5  JOHN  STREET. 
1863. 


STONE  &  HUSE,  PRS. 


SERMON. 


Think  not  I  am  come  to  send  peace  on  earth:   I  am  not  come  to 

SEND  PEACE,  BUT  A  SWORD.  Math.    10  :  34. 

strange  words  these.  Strangely  must  they  have  sounded  in 
the  ears  of  those  who  heard  them.  Who  is  he  who  thus  speaks  ? 
Is  he  an  Alexander,  or  a  Napoleon,  or  other  mighty  warrior, 
storming  through  the  nations,  in  battles  "  with  confused  noise 
and  garments  rolled  in  blood  ?"  No.  The  words  of  the  text 
are  His  who  is  styled  "  The  Prince  of  Peace  ;"  whose  character, 
as  delineated  by  the  pencil  of  prophecy,  is  the  perfection  of 
gentleness ;  "  He  shall  not  cry  nor  lift  up,  nor  cause  his  voice  to 
be  heard  in  the  streets;"  whose  entrance  into  the  world  was 
heralded  by  a  voice  from  heaven—''  On  earth  Peace  :  good  will 
towards  men."  Yet  this  same  Prince  of  Peace,  whose  spirit 
and  conduct  had  been  in  exact  harmony  with  all  prophetic  de- 
scriptions,— tender,  mild,  loving, — declares  one  day  to  his  disci- 
ples, that  he  is  not  come  to  give  peace  on  earth :  but  rather 
division  ;  was  "  come  to  set  man  at  variance  against  his  father, 
and  the  daughter  against  her  mother  ;"  to  divide  households  and 
communities  and  States,  and  fill  the  world  with  domestic  and 
civil  strifes.  "  I  am  come  to  send  fire  on  the  earth ;  and  what 
will  I,  if  it  be  already  kindled  ?" 

The  history  of  Christianity  has  been  a  signal  fulfillment  of 
these  words  of  its  author.  From  the  day  when  the  infants,  in 
Bethlehem  and  the  coasts  thereof — the  first  martyrs  for  Jesus — 
were  slaughtered  by  the  decree  of  Herod,  through  all  the  bloody 
ages  since,  until  now,  the  Christian  religion  has  unsheathed  the 
sword  and  kindled  devouring  fires  in  the  earth.  It  is  not  with- 
out some  show  of  reason,  at  first  look,  that  men  have  raised  the 
question,  whether,  so  far  as  this  present  life  is  concerned,  Chris- 


4 


tianity  has  not  been  the  occasion  of  more  misery  than  happiness 
to  mankind.  Ah !  what  anguish  has  been  endured  in  persecu- 
tions and  wasting  wars,  brought  to  pass  by  the  adoption  and 
maintenance  of  those  principles  of  justice — love  to  man  and 
faith  in  God, — which  Christ  introduced  into  history,  and  set  in 
battle  array  against  atheism,  selfishness,  and  oppression  I  The 
growth  of  religion  has  been  watered  by  the  tears  and  blood  of 
its  martyrs.  "Across  the  brazen  bridge  of  war  "  the  lovers  of 
Truth  have  persued  her  flying  steps.  Every  movement  towards 
a  nobler  character,  a  higher  civilization,  has  been  contested. 
Each  new  accession  to  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people  has 
been  bought  with  a  price,  and  so  I  suppose  it  must  be  true 

*    *    Till  time  shall  close, 
That  principles  are  rained  in  blood." 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  Christ,  when  He  says.  He  came 
not  to  send  peace  on  earth,  but  a  sword,  does  not,  in  these  words, 
indicate  at  all  the  intent  and  end  of  His  mission.  The  spirit 
and  aim  of  the  Gospel  is  peace.  Wherever  its  principles  are  in 
free  operation  there  is  no  more  strife.  When  these  shall  be  ex- 
alted, as  they  will  be  at  last,  to  their  decreed  supremacy  over  all 
the  world,  then  will  be  realized  the  praising  acclaim  of  the 
heavenly  host :  "  On  earth  peace  :  good  will  toward  men." 
When  Christ  says,  "  I  am  come  not  to  send  peace,  but  rather 
division,"  he  simply  foretells  the  result  of  the  march  of  His  Truth 
in  the  earth  ;  a  result  caused  not  by  the  nature  ot  the  Truth, 
but  by  the  opposition  it  encounters  from  the  Spirit  of  Evil,  estab- 
lished and  dormant  in  the  heart  of  society.  It  is  Satan,  not 
Christ,  who  first  draws  the  sword.  If  Truth  did  not  find  Error 
armed  to  the  teeth  to  dispute  her  progress,  if  Love  were  not 
confronted  by  Selfishness,  their  course  to  universal  empire  would 
be  as  serene  and  peaceful  as  the  sun's  circuit  through  the  sky. 
But  the  powers  of  Evil  occupy  the  earth.  They  contend  for 
the  right  of  possession,  as  the  Canaanites  did  for  the  lands  and 
cities  of  Palestine.  Then  comes  the  clash  of  arms.  Truth,  in 
the  name  of  God,  asserts  her  lawful  dominion  ;  wrong  rebels  ; 
society  is  agonized  and  convulsed,  until  the  vile  usurper  is  ex- 
pelled. So  the  unclean  spirit  tore  the  lunatic  child  when  Jesus 
commanded  him  out. 


If  God  had  chosen  to  give  the  world  over  to  the  undisputed 
empire  of  sin,  and  been  willing  to  allow  the  aspirations  of 
the  human  spirit  for  a  life  higher  than  the  life  of  the 
senses,  to  perish,  the  course  of  history  might  have  been  more 
quiet ;  but  it  would  have  been  the  quiet  of  stagnation  and 
death.  If  He  would  conduct  humanity  from  its  bondage  into  a 
larger  liberty  and  blessedness — a  land  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey — it  could  be  by  no  other  than  a  path  of  dissension  and 
strife.  "  The  kingdom  of  heaven  sufFereth  violence,  and  the 
violent  take  it  by  force."  In  inaugurating  a  warfare  against  error 
and  unrighteousness,  it  was  inevitable  that  Christ  should  cause 
the  sword  to  be  drawn  and  streams  of  blood  to  flow.  The 
hearty  espousal  of  his  doctrines  was  sure  to  set  a  man  at  vari- 
ance with  father  and  mother,  and  wife  and  child,  and  every  other 
creature  that  rejected  them  ;  yea,  with  his  own  self  also.  Espe- 
cially, when  the  spirit  of  injustice  is  embodied  in  organic  insti- 
tutions, and  armed  with  political  power,  will  the  assertion  of  the 
principles  of  truth  and  righteousness  involve  individuals  and 
nations  in  destructive  feuds.  When  gigantic  errors,  such  as 
"  the  divine  right  "  of  kings  and  popes  and  aristocrats  and  slave- 
holders, become  political  forces,  conspiring  against  freedom  of 
thought  and  conscience,  shortening  in  the  true  liberty  and 
growth  of  manhood,  whole  generations  must  be  wasted  by  the 
sword,  before  the  fetters  break,  the  chains  fall,  and  humanity,  in 
the  ages  to  come,  can  go  forth  free  and  rejoicing  in  the  path  of 
a  noble  destiny.  The  progress  of  religion  and  popular  liberty, 
the  elevation  of  the  masses  to  a  purer,  ampler  character,  and  a 
large  possession  of  their  God-given  rights — O  I  this  has  been 
the  price  of  incessant  vigilance  and  suffering.  Battle-fields  cov- 
ered with  blood  and  smoke ;  brave  men  toiling  patiently  on  the 
side  of  Right,  and  meeting  their  fate  calm-browed  upon  scaf- 
folds ;  noble  women  enduring  more  than  mortal  agony  that 
something  good  might  be  born  for  coming  ages,  out  of  their 
sighs  and  tears,  like  the  morning  from  the  womb  of  night — such 
has  been  the  march  of  civilization  ;  so  have  rolled  and  rolled  the 
weary  centuries  away. 

In  order  to  feel  reconciled  to  this  suffering  in  the  cause  of 
Eight,  we  must  see  the  necessity  of  it,  and  have  an  eagle-eyed 
faith  to  discern  the  good — the  far-off  good — which  shall  come  at 


6 


last  to  all,  and  can  be  achieved  in  no  other  way.  We  need  to 
realize  that  the  agonies  of  the  present  are  such  as  shall  yield 
the  fruit  of  a  larger  and  more  blessed  life  in  generations  yet  to 
be,  and  that 

"  Tliey  who  bear  the  cross  to-day- 
Shall  Avear  the  crown  to-morrow." 

How  vividly  conscious  must  our  Lord  have  been  of  that  infinite 
good  which  He  had  to  bestow  upon  mankind,  impossible  to  be 
given  at  any  cheaper  rate,  when  He  did  not  hesitate  in  the  work 
He  came  to  do,  neither  in  view  of  His  own  suffering  nor  of  the 
dark  historic  picture  which  lay  unrolled  before  his  vision.  Bear 
in  mind,  Jesus  loved  peace  and  hated  strife.  His  heart  was 
tender  towards  human  suffering.  His  eyes  became  fountains  of 
tears  in  the  presence  of  bereavement  and  sorrow.  He  must 
have  distinctly  foreseen  all  the  woes  which  history  has  revealed, 
occasioned  by  the  introduction  and  maintenance  of  His  king- 
dom in  this  perverse  and  crooked  planet  of  ours.  Yet,  in  view 
of  all.  He  hesitated  not  to  unfurl  the  banner  of  righteousness, 
call  upon  men  to  enlist  in  His  service,  and  institute  that  warfare 
against  the  powers  of  darkness  which  He  knew  would  light  the 
fires  of  martyrdom,  convulse  the  nations,  and  drench  the  world 
in  blood. 

Imagine  Christ  at  the  outstart  of  His  ministry — perhaps  this 
was  realized  in  the  Temptation  ;  at  all  events,  since  He  was  Om- 
niscient, the  picture  is  materially  true — imagine  Him  standing 
on  some  high  mountain  of  vision,  overlooking  the  path  of  his- 
tory. Right  before  Him  stands  His  own  cross,  and  down  along 
the  vista  of  the  opening  centuries,  He  beholds  the  endless  line 
of  crosses  and  prisons  and  stakes  where  His  followers  must 
groan  and  languish  and  burn  for  His  truth's  sake.  Fair  women 
craunched  in  the  jaws  of  ferocious  beasts ;  stout-hearted  men 
braving  the  untold  horrors  of  the  inquisition  ;  bands  of  fugitives 
hiding  in  deserts  and  mountains,  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth,  or 
leaving  their  native  country  for  the  inhospitable  wilderness,  and 
still  more  inhospitable  savage ;  battle-fields  filled  with  the  dead, 
in  France  and  Germany  and  the  Netherlands  and  England  and 
America,  and  tender,  affectionate  hearts  weeping  their  lives  away 
in  secret  anguish  for  those  who  should  never  come  back  to  their 
love — Ah  me  !  what  imagination  can  picture — what  pen  de- 


7 


scribe  the  scenes  of  suffering  which,  in  such  an  hour  of  fore- 
vision,  must  have  passed  before  the  Savior's  eye — suffering  en- 
dured because  men  had  espoused  His  doctrine  and  devoted 
their  lives  to  its  advancement.  Strong  must  have  been  the 
temptation  to  abandon  such  an  undertaking,  and  leave  the  world 
to  slumber  and  sleep  on.  Clear  must  have  been  Christ's  knowl- 
edge of  that  infinite  good — nobler  than  any  peace  of  the  world 
hitherto — to  which  he  could  conduct  the  nations  by  this  painful 
path  of  self-denial,  or  He  could  not  have  looked  on  such  a  pros- 
pect with  a  resolute  and  exultant  eye.  In  like  manner  we  need 
afar-sighted  faith  to  comprehend  the  future  good,  for  us  and  for- 
generations  unborn,  which  will  be  the  purchase  of  our  toil  and 
tears,  in  order  to  bear  with  fortitude  our  own  sorrows,  or  look 
hopefully  on  the  strifes  of  the  world. 

This  war  which  is  now  wasting  our  land  is  a  fulfillment  of 
the  declaration  of  Christ :  "  I  am  not  come  to  send  peace,  but  a 
sword.''  Christianity  is  in  one  sense  the  cause  of  this  war — this 
namely :  that  the  war  has  resulted  from  the  conflict  of  its  prin- 
ciples of  loyalty  and  liberty  with  disloyalty  and  oppression. 
The  strife  now  waging  in  this  country  is  a  strife  of  principles, 
of  ideas.  Liberty  is  arrayed  against  despotism  ;  popular  rights 
against  aristocratic  tyranny.  Since  Christ  sides  with  freedom 
and  the  weal  of  the  poor,  against  all  selfishness  and  slavery,  this 
war  is  Christ's  war,  and  all  who  have  fallen  in  its  battles  have 
fallen  in  His  and  humanity's  cause.  St)  we  believe  and  speak, 
as  we  stand  to-day  around  our  Dead.  There, men  and  brethren, 
there  is  a  part  of  the  price  we  are  paying  for  civil  and  religious 
liberty  !  That  life  was  a  necessary  sacrifice  for  this  unspeakable 
boon.  It  was  not  sacrificed  foolishly  on  the  altar  of  personal 
ambition.  That  true  heart  bled  and  broke  in  freedom's  holy 
cause.  Earth  shall  be  purer,  manhood  nobler  in  ages  to  come, 
for  this  life,  and  the  multitude  of  other  precious  lives  beside, 
that  have  been  freely  laid  down  in  this  great  struggle. 

With  such  thoughts  would  I  fain  mitigate  the  anguish  of  these 
bereaved  friends,  and  stimulate  all  here  present  with  a  spirit  of 
self-sacrifice  in  behalf  of  our  imperiled  country,  and  the  precious, 
unconquerable  principles  which  it  represents. 

Capt.  Salem  S.  Marsh  was  born  in  Southbridge,  Worcester 
County,  of  this  State,  November  23,  1836,  and  was  therefore  a 


% 


8 


little  more  than  twenty-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  came  to  Lowell  with  his  parents  in  1846.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year  spent  at  Thetford  Academy,  Vermont,  his  pre- 
paratory education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  this 
city.  He  entered  West  Point,  June,  1855,  at  the  age  of  eighteen ; 
graduated  in  1860,  and  was  attached  to  the  9th  Regiment,  U.  S. 
Infantry,  as  2nd  lieutenant,  by  brevet.  In  the  autumn  of  the 
same  year,  he  was  ordered,  with  a  command  of  one  hundred 
men,  to  W^ashington  Territory,  to  guard  and  superintend  the 
construction  of  a  wagon  road,  then  being  built  by  the  Govern- 
ment. He  enjoyed  this  expedition  much,  and  it  seems  to  have 
had  no  inconsiderable  influence  in  the  development  of  his  char- 
acter. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  present  civil  war,  he  was 
anxious  to  be  assigned  to  some  more  direct  service  in  his  coun- 
try's defence.  In  October  last  he  was  permitted  to  return  from 
the  Territory,  transferred  to  the  2nd  Regiment  of  U.  S.  Infantry, 
and  ordered  to  report  at  Washington.  He  found  his  Regiment 
then  stationed  at  Warrenton,  Va.,  and,  being  the  oldest  com- 
missioned officer,  at  once  took  command,  which  he  held  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  At  the  first  crossing  of  the  Rappahannock, 
under  Gen.  Burn  side,  Capt.  Marsh  with  his  Regiment  was  as- 
signed a  work  of  great  importance  and  peril,  which  he  performed 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  command  the  highest  praise.  In  the 
passage  of  the  Rappahannock  under  General  Hooker,  Capt. 
Marsh  with  his  Regiment,  then  recruited  to  eight  hundred  men, 
was  the  first  to  cross  the  river.  The  division  to  which  his  com- 
mand belonged  was  ordered  to  charge  upon  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  lying  on  the  border  of  a  tract  of  woodland.  In  this 
action  he  behaved  with  composure  and  courage.  A  few  of  his 
men,  lately  recruited,  were  seen  to  falter,  when  he  rode  to  the 
front  of  the  wavering  column  and  checked  it  instantly.  Return- 
ing to  his  post,  a  bullet  pierced  his  brain,  and  he  fell  dead  from 
his  horse. 

Many  highly  commendatory  testimonies  have  been  received 
by  his  friends  to  Capt.  Marsh's  bravery  and  efficiency.  "A  more 
efficient  and  gallant  officer,"  says  one,  "  never  commanded  a 
battalion  or  drew  a  sword.  His  loss  is  deeply  lamented." 
Another,  in  communicating  the  sad  intelligence  to  his  father, 


9 


says :  "  Capt.  Marsh  behaved  with  great  coolness  and  gallantry, 
and  the  army  has  lost  one  of  its  best  officers.  Every  one  de- 
plores his  loss."  Another  says,  in  a  letter  written  v/hen  the 
movement  seemed  successful :  "  My  joy  over  the  result  is  very 
much  clouded  by  the  loss  of  Salem  S.  Marsh.  He  held  a 
splendid  position,  and  bore  a  fine  reputation." 

It  is  needless  to  add  further  testimony  to  his  military  character. 
You,  his  companions  and  neighbors,  who  have  known  him  from 
boyhood,  are  not  surprised  to  learn  that  he  was  bold  and  ener- 
getic, and  promised  to  reach  the  highest  honors  of  his  profession. 
What  is  more  gratifying  to  say,  his  heart  was  in  the  war.  As  a 
professional  soldier,  it  was  his  duty  to  go  where  he  was  sent. 
Doubtless  he  would  have  fought  well  for  his  country  in  any 
circumstances.  But  he  wanted  to  be  in  this  war  ;  for  he  felt  in 
the  depths  of  his  soul  the  justice  and  magnitude  of  the  nation's 
cause.  Like  all  energetic  soldiers,  he  was  ambitious.  But  the 
great  motive  that  animated  him  was  love  of  the  institutions  and 
principles  of  his  government,  and  hatred  of  that  rebellion  which 
was  endeavoring  to  subvert  and  destroy  them.  Conviction  that 
he  was  fighting  for  interests,  wide  in  their  compass  as  the  world, 
and  far  reaching  as  time,  put  courage  into  his  heart  and  nerve 
into  his  arm. 

Of  Capt.  Marsh's  social  character  the  devoted  attachment  of 
his  many  friends  is  the  best  testimony.  Frank,  generous,  warm- 
hearted, abhoringall  pretence  and  insincerity,  those  who  knew  him 
best  loved  him  most.  Always  an  affectionate  son  and  brother,  the 
strength  and  tenderness  of  his  love  was  never  so  apparent  as  in 
his  last  visits.  Towards  his  parents  he  always  manifested  the 
truest  filial  respect  and  affection. 

Capt.  Marsh  was  baptized  in  infancy  and  consecrated  by  his 
parents  to  the  service  of  the  living  God.  He  was  thoroughly 
instructed  in  the  principles  of  the  Protestant  Christian  faith,  and 
his  every  footstep  has  been  circumvented  by  a  father's  and  a 
mother's  prayers.  He  was  never  known  to  entertain  any  de- 
cided doubts  concerning  the  essential  doctrines  of  Christianity, 
or  the  duty  of  a  life  of  practical  godliness.  Yet  he  never  made 
a  profession  of  religion.  His  extreme  carefulness  not  to  say 
anything  more  or  other  than  he  felt  was  true  made  him  reserved 
on  the  subject  of  his  personal  religious  experiences.    In  his  re- 


10 


cent  visits  home  he  seemed  to  give  an  unusual  thoughtful  at- 
tendance to  family,  social,  and  public  worship.  His  last  letters 
expressed  a  tender,  subdued  feeling,  so  much  so  as  to  have 
awakened  in  "his  parents  the  expectation  that  any  letter  might 
bring  them  the  welcome  news  of  his  public  profession  of 
faith  in  Christ.  No  such  letter  came.  Yet,  in  the  cir- 
cumstances may  we  not  indulge  the  hope  that  a  saving 
work  of  grace  was  wrought  in  his  heart,  earlier  or  later, 
preparing  him  for  his  departure  ?  One  thing  we  know  :  "  the 
Judge  of  all  the  earth  will  do  right."  Our  brave,  dear  friend 
has  fallen,  as  a  patriot  should,  if  fall  he  must,  at  the  post  of 
duty.    "  Dulce  et  decum  est  pro  patria  mori." 

In  the  midst  of  our  deep  sorrow,  it  is  a  comfort  to  know  that 
our  friend  died  bravely  in  a  glorious  work.  His  death,  as  well 
as  that  of  so  many  who  have  with  him  perished  in  the  same  strug- 
gle, will  not,  can  not,  be  in  vain.  Whatever  may  be  the  results 
of  this  war  in  the  present  generation,  these  noble  heroes  who 
have  fallen  upon  the  ever-memorable  battle-fields  of  the  last  two 
years,  have  not  died  for  naught.  Love  of  civil  freedom  will  be 
a  stronger,  diviner,  more  vital  sentiment  in  the  heart  of  humanity 
so  long  as  time  shall  last,  for  the  sacrifices  and  pains  now  en- 
dured in  her  immortal  cause.  Future  generations  will  rise  up 
and  call  these  martyrs  of  liberty  blessed. 

"  And  let  the  land  whose  hearths  they  saved  from  shame^ 
For  many  and  many  age  proclaim 
At  civic  revel  and  pomp  and  game, 
And  v/hen  the  long  illumined  cities  flame 
Their  ever  loyal  defenders'  fame, 
With  honor,  honor,  honor,  honor  to  them. 
Eternal  honor  to  their  names." 

Among  the  thoughts  proper  to  conclude  these  remarks,  I  men- 
tion, first,  the  recognition  of  the  hand  of  God  in  the  event 
which  has  called  us  together.  Not  only  ought  we  to  acknowl- 
edge the  Supreme  power,  disposing  victories  and  defeats,  and 
directing  all  things  according  to  the  counsels  of  His  infinite 
wisdom  and  love,  but  we  should  see  that  Omniscient  Will  pre- 
siding over  the  fate  of  each  individual  soldier  in  our  vast  armies. 
He  who,  according  to  Holy  Writ,  watches  the  fall  of  every 
sparrow,  directs  the  course  of  every  bullet  in  battle,  as  He  directs 


11 


the  course  of  every  rain  drop  in  a  shower.  I  saw  a  soldier  come 
off  the  battle-field  with  a  minnie  ball  all  crushed  up  among  the 
broken  machinery  of  his  watch.  The  ball  hit  his  watch  ;  that 
stopped  beating  ;  the  man's  heart  went  beating  right  on.  What 
if  it  had  not  been  there  ?  So  many  hair-breadth  escapes,  known 
and  unknown,  does  every  soldier  pass  through,  that  for  him  to 
be  undevout  and  skeptical  of  Divine  Providence  seems  little  less 
than  madness.  God  directed  the  bullet  that  laid  our  friend  low. 
Why,  we  cannot  tell.  His  ways  are  unsearchable  ;  His  judg- 
ments past  finding  out.    Amen  :   so  let  it  be. 

Gladly  would  I  say  something,  if  I  could,  to  assuage  the  big 
sorrow  of  these  bereaved  parents,  and  of  this  brother  and  sister, 
now  before  me.  But  words  of  condolement  are  almost  or  quite 
useless  in  such  an  experience  as  this.  When  the  soul  is  under 
the  chastening  rod  of  heaven,  to  be  still  and  know  that  it  is  God, 
is  the  whole  of  wisdom.  Where  there  is  sin,  there  must  be  suf- 
fering. The  Captain  of  our  Salvation  was  made  perfect  by  it, 
and  this  is  the  undeviating  law  of  the  disciple's  way.  The 
Lord  doth  not  willingly  afflict  nor  grieve  the  children  of  men. 
He  doth  not  chasten  us  for  His  own  pleasure,  but  for  our  profit, 
that  we  may  be  partakers  of  his  holiness.  Beloved,  this  smit- 
ing of  God's  hand  is  a  pledge  of  your  sonship,  "  for  whom  the 
Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he 
receiveth."  It  is  unnecessary  that  I  should  point  you,  so  long 
experienced  in  the  promises  and  helps  of  our  religion,  to  the  un- 
failing source  of  comfort  to  which  we  may  all  have  access  in  the 
day  of  trouble.  I  can  only  say,  my  heart  yearns  with  sympathy 
for  you  in  this  great  grief,  while  I  join  with  all  these  responsive 
hearts  and  tearful  eyes  in  commending  you  to  the  infinite  com- 
passion of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

To  all  of  us,  whom  this  event  has  brought  to  the  place  of 
mourning,  it  has  a  double  lesson.  First,  that  we  make  our  peace 
with  God,  and  set  ourselves  in  readiness  for  his  will  concerning 
us,  whether  it  be  of  life  or  of  death.  Second,  that  we  espouse 
with  a  whole-hearted  Christian  patriotism  the  cause  of  our  im- 
perilled country.  The  blood  of  every  patriot  poured  forth  in  its 
defence  should  make  our  nation  and  the  principles  it  embodies 
dearer,  more  sacred  in  our  hearts,  and  inspire  us  with  an  unal- 
terable determination  to  sustain  it  in  this  struggle,  with  our  lives 


12 


and  fortunes  to  the  last.  Every  one  who  falls  in  the  fight,  calls 
for  another  soul,  stout  and  true,  to  seize  his  musket  or  sword 
and  fill  the  gap.  Many  of  the  noblest  lives  of  the  nation  have 
already  been  sacrificed  in  this  war  for  the  Union.  Are  we  now 
going  to  falter,  renounce  our  principles,  give  up  the  Union,  and 
cry  peace,  peace  ?  The  dead  of  many  a  hard-fought  field  would 
rise  up  out  of  their  graves  and  trenches  to  condemn  us,  if  we 
should  do  such  meanness.  Massachusetts  has  given  some  of  her 
most  precious  sons,  victims  to  this  unrighteous  rebellion.  Are 
you,  men  of  Massachusetts,  going  to  allow  the  bones  of  these, 
your  brothers,  to  bleach  and  their  dust  to  sleep  in  a  foreign  land, 
under  the  flag  of  an  insolent  foe  ?  By  all  that  has  been  already 
sacrificed  and  endured  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  national  sal- 
vation— by  the  tears  that  are  here  shed  to-day,  and  those  which 
are  falling  thick  and  fast  from  so  many  aching  hearts  all  over  the 
land,  we  are  called  upon  to  gird  ourselves  to  the  work,  and  push 
on  this  contest,  God  willing,  to  ultimate,  complete  victory.  I 
never  feel  this  so  strongly  as  I  do  when  I  see  some  poor  soldier,  on 
our  streets,  crippled  for  life,  or  stand  by  the  coffin  of  one  fallen 
in  battle,  as  we  do  this  day.  God  help  us  all  to  lay  the  lessons 
of  this  scene  to  heart,  and  give  us  wisdom  to  know  and  do  our 
individual  duties  in  this  hour  of  the  nation's  trial. 

Now,  while  all  nature  is  rejoicing  in  the  full  blush  of  her  new 
found  life,  and  the  air  is  resonant  with  the  music  of  the  birds, 
and  fragrant  with  the  odors  of  flowers,  bear  we  these  mortal  re- 
mains away  to  the  place  of  burial.  Take  him  up  gently,  com- 
rades ;  lay  him  away  carefully  in  his  honorable  grave.  Peace 
be  to  his  ashes.  Green  grow  the  turf  over  his  rest.  Hallowed, 
in  all  om-  hearts,  be  the  memory  of  the  Brave. 


